Stopping a Parent From Leaving the State With the Child

**JODY** · 10-10-2005, 10:50 AM

SO MY BOYFRIEND (CHRIS) IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS SONS MOTHER (TABBIE)... HERES THE SITUATION.... THEY MOVED TO FLORIDA ABOUT A YEAR AGO. TABBIE HAS LIVED WITH CHRIS AND HIS FAMILY SINCE THEY MOVED TO FLORIDA. CHRIS'S FAMILY HAS SUPPLIED FINANCIAL AS WELL AS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO NOT ONLY HER, GAGE 7 (CHRIS'S SON) BUT ALSO TO TABBIES OTHER DAUGHTER, CHRISTI 4. FOR THE LAST YEAR. TABBIE AND CHRIS HAVE JOINT CUSTODY OVER GAGE TABBIE IS THE COSTODIAL PARENT... THIS WAS FILED IN MICHIGAN WHEN THEY DID NOT LIVE TOGETHER. SHE IS NOW TRYING TO MOVE BACK TO MICHIGAN TAKING GAGE WITH HER. CHRIS AND HIS FAMILY ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO WHERE SHE CAN NOT LEAVE THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH GAGE. SHE PLANS ON LEAVING WITH IN A WEEK TO MOVE IN WITH HER MOTHER WHO IS GETTING OUT OF PRISON (IN PRISON FOR DRUG ABUSE AND THEFT.) CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS CHRIS CAN DO NOTHING TO KEEP HIS SON WITH HIM. BUT I KNOW HE HAS TO HAVE SOME RIGHTS... THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING HE CAN DO. THIS SITUATION IS KILLING HIM AND HIS FAMILY... ANY HELP?? NEEDED ASAP

PLEASE EMAIL ME AT EYESOFBLUEFYRE@AOL.COM

**Mr. Knowitall** · 10-10-2005, 10:53 AM

Unless he gets a new court order, there isn't anything he can do to prevent her from returning to Michigan with the child. He should consider petitioning a Florida court to assume jurisdiction under the UCCJEA (as the child has been domiciled in Florida for more than six months) and, if successful, to ask that the court modify custody to keep the child in Florida. Obviously, it will help him to work with a custody lawyer.